A Night of Chaos and Survival

In 2014, the United States faced a devastating economic collapse, leading to the rise of a totalitarian political party known as the New Founding Fathers of America. With the support of his followers, the President passed a controversial new law called The Purge. This law allowed all crimes to be legal for one night every year, spanning twelve hours. During this time, emergency services were unavailable, Level 10 government officials were untouchable, and weapons above Class 4—such as rocket launchers—were strictly forbidden.

The Purge became a terrifying outlet for people's darkest urges, giving them an opportunity to unleash violence without consequence. As a result, by 2022, the United States had transformed into a near-crime-free society, with unemployment dropping to just 1%.

The Night Begins

On the evening of the 2022 Purge, James, a successful security system salesman, was on his way home. He specialized in security systems designed specifically for The Purge, making him wealthy enough to live in an exclusive, gated Los Angeles community. As he drove through his neighborhood, he noticed the familiar sight of blue flowers—symbols of support for The Purge—adorning his and many of his neighbors’ yards.

Arriving home an hour before the event began, James was greeted by his wife, Mary, who informed him that their teenage daughter, Zoe, had been sulking in her room all day. The reason? Her parents had forbidden her from dating an older boy. Meanwhile, in her room, Zoe was secretly with her boyfriend, Henry. Upon hearing her father’s arrival, she quickly made Henry sneak out through the balcony. As he climbed down, they both noticed a neighbor sharpening a machete—clear preparation for the night ahead.

Mary went outside to place the blue flowers in their yard and was approached by their neighbor, Grace. She complimented Mary’s new home renovations, subtly reminding her that their family could afford it thanks to James' security systems. Grace also mentioned she wouldn’t be hosting a party this year. However, Mary would soon realize this was a lie.

Inside, their young son, Charlie, played with his custom-built toy—a creepy remote-controlled device equipped with night vision and a silent motor. As the family sat down for dinner, their bonding was interrupted when Charlie noticed only five minutes remained before The Purge began. James rushed to activate the security systems, sealing all doors and windows just in time.

An Uninvited Guest

As the emergency broadcast system announced the beginning of The Purge, chaos erupted outside. Zoe retreated to her room, only to be startled by Henry, who had sneaked back inside. Instead of enjoying their time together, Henry declared he wanted to confront James about their relationship.

Meanwhile, Charlie, disturbed by the violence on TV, checked the security cameras and spotted a wounded man running through the streets, begging for help. Gunshots echoed in the distance. Without hesitation, Charlie disabled the security system for a brief moment, opening the front door just long enough for the injured stranger to slip inside.

James, realizing the breach, immediately reactivated the lockdown. He grabbed his gun, prepared for a confrontation. At the same time, Henry revealed his true intentions—he pulled a gun on James. Mary screamed a warning just as Henry fired. In the chaos, Henry was shot and collapsed, leaving Zoe in shock as she dragged him back to her room.

The injured stranger, now inside, disappeared into the house. James, furious at Charlie for letting him in, took his wife and son to the security room before setting out to locate both Zoe and the intruder.

The Gang Arrives

Not long after, a group of masked individuals armed with an assortment of deadly weapons appeared in the yard. Their leader, a disturbingly calm young man, rang the doorbell. Speaking through the front camera, he acknowledged James and his family, commenting on their support for The Purge, as indicated by the blue flowers. However, he also revealed that they had been hunting the wounded stranger and knew he was inside.

The leader gave James a chilling ultimatum: hand over the stranger, or the gang would breach the house and kill everyone inside. To show they were serious, the gang leader executed one of his own impatient members on the spot.

A Choice to Make

James knew their security system wouldn't hold against determined attackers. As he and Mary searched for the wounded man, they found themselves conflicted. Could they really sacrifice an innocent stranger to save themselves? Mary, initially hesitant, realized the inhumanity of what they were about to do and refused to continue.

As the couple debated, the gang outside secured a chain to their front gate and prepared to rip it down. Time was up. James made his decision—he wouldn't turn the man over. Instead, he instructed Charlie to hide, then gathered weapons with Mary, preparing for the inevitable confrontation.

With a deafening crash, the gang’s truck tore through the gate. Armed intruders stormed the house, breaking windows and flooding inside. James and Mary took cover as the masked figures hunted them, their laughter echoing through the halls. Charlie, hiding in his room, was discovered by one of the gang members. Just as the attacker prepared to execute him, James arrived and shot the intruder, saving his son.

Meanwhile, Zoe hid under a bed as one of the gang members searched for her, whispering sinister threats. Elsewhere, James was ambushed and engaged in brutal hand-to-hand combat, using everything within reach—including a pinball machine—to fight back. But he was soon overpowered and stabbed by the gang leader, left bleeding on the floor.

A Surprising Twist

As the gang prepared to finish the job, gunfire erupted from an unexpected source. Their own neighbors, led by Grace, stormed in and took down the remaining intruders. However, this was no act of kindness. Grace revealed her true colors—the neighbors had never liked the Sandins and had planned to kill them once the gang had weakened them.

Just as Grace raised her weapon, a gunshot rang out. The injured stranger, freed from his restraints, had returned the favor. With the neighbors dead, he turned to Mary and Charlie, signaling that the fight was over.

As dawn broke, the emergency broadcast declared The Purge officially ended. Covered in blood and shaken to their core, the surviving members of the Sandin family sat in silence, realizing that despite the law's promise of control, true horror was never outside—it had been among them all along.